 Four Reminders During Suffering
Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. When crisis hits and we go through suffering like we never expected we naturally question God. One question might be, "Does God love me?" When we ask, "Does God love me?" we need to understand four things:
Understanding those four truths enabled the Apostle Paul to pose the questions, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?” and answer with certainty, “Nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of Christ!” No type of suffering can separate us from Christ’s love. Nothing in the present or future can separate us from the love of Christ. Nothing in all of creation can separate us from the love of Christ. We are more than conquerors through Christ who loves us. Unfailing love is our greatest need in a sinful world. The love of Jesus Christ is the only love that cannot be defeated and kept from us. The love of Jesus Christ is the only love that will never fail or forsake us. Because we have Christ’s unfailing love we are able to love those who fail us and continue to make disciples. When you are suffering the loss of human love, are you doubting the love of God? Loss of human love cannot separate us from the love of Jesus Christ. When you are suffering hardships while serving the Lord, do you wonder if God loves you? Remember, nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus Christ. We will suffer while serving God in this sin infected world, but we are more than conquerors through Christ who loves us. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. We can say with Paul as we serve God in a sinful world, “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for Him who for their sake died and was raised.” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15) As we approach the time when all the world will hate us because we are Christians and even family members may turn on us, we are to remember that nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus Christ, and through Him we are more than conquerors. May you know the love of God! Three key questions to ask as we prayerfully read the scriptures:
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 No Condemnation.
Romans 8:33-34 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died- more than that, who was raised- who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who are God’s elect? The elect are people God knew would repent of their sins and believe the gospel. Knowing they would believe, God predestined them, called them, justified (“made righteous”) them, and glorified them (glorification is done, but is in the future). The elect are people who believe in Jesus as Lord. In the Roman church there were individuals among the Jewish Christians and individuals among the Gentile Christians that were bringing condemning charges against each other. The Gentile Christians charged the Jewish Christians of trusting in the food laws and special days and condemned them. The Jewish Christians charged the Gentile Christians for not living Jewishly and condemned them. These judgments brought divisions in the local church and were hindering their main mission of seeking and saving the lost because they were not building each other up in Christ. Romans 14:1-3instructs us not to condemn practices that God accepts. Read Romans 14:4, 10, 13for what we are not to do. We are not to pass judgment on a fellow believer concerning something God says is okay to practice. Christians often have personal opinions on what is pleasing to God. People will disagree. Many times this leads to division in the Church. If both sides become vocal and condemning it hinders the primary work of God, the tasks of building each other up and reaching those who do not know Christ. We are to judge our fellow believer if they are doing what God calls sin, but in gentleness with the purpose to restore (Galatians 6:1; 1 Corinthians 5:1-5). This is called making a right judgement. To often bad judgements are made on both sides. We are to judge sinful practices and not the intentions of the heart. Only God knows the heart. We are not to condemn those who have repented and believed the gospel, who have been justified by God. We are not to condemn, that is call a person a non-believer, because they practice a lifestyle okay with God, but not with how we think they should live the Christian life. Divisions arise in local churches today over holiday practices, drinking practices, dress codes, dancing, games, hair, etc. The Bible makes clear what is acceptable in these practices and what is not:
What does the Bible say about these topics? If a certain church values wearing 'the Sunday best' and another church values 'come as you are' is one church right and one church wrong? If a certain church prefers men to have short hair and women long hair and another church prefers 'come as you are' hair is one right and one wrong? If one church is alcohol free and another practices moderation and wisdom in love for others which one is right? You get the picture. The Bible addresses each one of these topics. Begin to find what the scriptures say as you read through the Bible systematically. We need to make sure we are judging according to what the Bible calls sin and then address it with the purpose to restore a believer, not to condemn a believer. Are you in bringing condemning charges against other believers? May you live free of condemnation and judge rightly. Three key questions to ask as we prayerfully read the scriptures:
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Romans 8:16-17, 31-32 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs- heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? In the midst of sufferings we are to remember God is for us and greater than all our enemies. We are to remember that if God gave His own Son to save us from our sins (Matthew 1:21), then He will withhold from us nothing we need. We are to remember that God is our Deliverer and Provider. Knowing our well-being is in the hands of our Lord and not people enables us to express love even to those who oppose us. Love is expressed by obeying the commands of the Lord (1 John 5:2-3). Knowing the Lord loved us enough to give His own Son to save us from our sins enables us to love God and rely on Him in the midst of our sufferings instead of getting angry at Him and withdrawing from Him. Since God is for us, we are victors in the midst of our sufferings. Be a victor! Don’t be a victim! Express love to those who oppose you. May you trust the love of God. Three key questions to ask as we prayerfully read the scriptures:
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Romans 8:16-18, 28-30 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs- heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us… 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. The question is often asked, “How can a good God allow all the sufferings in the world, especially the sufferings of His children?” Paul answers this question in our passage today. The big picture answer is short and sweet. Paul wrote that sin is the cause of our sufferings in this current evil age (Romans 7:24; Galatians 1:4; 5:17). God is the solution to our sin problem. Jesus Christ suffered on the cross to deliver us from sin’s penalty and power (Romans 8:17). We, also like Jesus, are going to suffer in this sinful world as we take the message of the gospel of salvation to others. Hang with me, let's flesh this out a bit. As children of God, we are heirs together with Christ and will be glorified with Him. Glorified means we will be with Him one day, free from the presence of sin. This is great news. Yet, all of us who are believers in Christ are not above our Teacher (Matthew 10:24). If our teacher Jesus suffered fulfilling God’s purpose for Him in a sinful world, then we will too. Fulfilling our God-given assignments to help as many people as possible meet, know and follow Jesus means we will suffer like Christ did in His earthly ministry, not only from sinful people, but also from a creation infected by sin. Living and serving God in this present evil age is like living with “birth pains” (Romans 8:22). It is a small thing to endure when compared to living free from sin in the presence of God in the new heavens and earth. The end goal of our life in Christ is to be glorified (Romans 8:17, 30). The immediate goal of our existence with Christ in this sinful environment is the same as Christ’s was, to rescue people from this present evil age (Galatians 1:4). We are in a battle for souls. There will be suffering in all shapes and sizes. This leads us back to the tough passage of Romans 8:28-30 we are looking at today: 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. Jesus is referred to here as the first born among many brothers. Who are the many brothers? All the people Jesus will save from their sin through the proclamation the gospel. This will require suffering like Jesus. The sufferings we go through (the “all things” of Romans 8:28) will work together for God’s good by conforming us to the image of Christ. The more we look like Christ to people trapped in sin, the more successful we will be in plucking people out of their sin by how we live and the gospel we proclaim. God knew His labor force. Those laborers God foreknew, He predestined to be conformed to Christ’s image. He called them out of their sin to justify them (free them from the penalty of sin) and to glorify them (free them from the presence of sin). We who are called to reach people with God's good news of salvation will suffer in our life time. But, we need to know that it is worth the sufferings, just as a mother knows the birth pains are worth the delivery of the child. The sufferings are worth it because we will see people delivered from sin. The sufferings are worth it because God will use them to make us more like Christ. The sufferings are a small thing compared with being glorified with Christ. What we know changes the whole way we look at suffering as we live for Christ. Can you now say, “I know that all things work together for the good because I love God and am called according to His purpose"? God has entered a sinful world to deliver people He loves from the destruction and death caused by sin and He has sent us on the same mission of love knowing we will suffer. God did not cause the sin, but He is saving all creation from sin. God is good. God is loving. He allows His children to suffer in order to rescue more people from the sin that wages war against their souls, just as a good government allows soldiers to suffer to save the nation’s people from a hostile enemy. I know, this is heavy and a lot to take in. Please be encouraged in your suffering as a good soldier. God does work ALL things together for the good of those who love Him. Keep your eye on the prize. May you suffer well with Jesus. Three key questions to ask as we prayerfully read the scriptures:
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Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. The first sentence of this passage of scripture carries forth the fact that we are weak and need the help of the Holy Spirit. This is a general truth that is supported by God’s words to Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness,” and Paul’s inspired words in Ephesians 3:20, “Now to Him Who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.” We never have the excuse, “I’m too weak to live what the Bible teaches.” We no longer live by our own power and resources, but by the power and resources of God (Galatians 2:20; 5:16). The general truth of, “the Spirit helps us in our weakness,” is applied to our prayer life. When we do not know what to pray the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness to pray according to God’s will. This help is not praying in tongues, which is a legitimate gift of the Spirit, but is “groanings too deep for words.” Deep within us we sense the groanings of the Holy Spirit as we’re praying. We are not uttering words, because we do not know what to pray, but are rather groaning by the power of the Holy Spirit. Our groanings are the Holy Spirit helping us pray God’s will. You will know when this is happening. The Holy Spirit is working through us as we are before God’s throne and do not know what to pray, but know prayer is needed. The groanings from the Holy Spirit through us are heard by God. He answers our prayer because it is according to His will (1 John 5:14-15). The Greek word Paul uses for “intercede” means “to ask with urgency and intensity.” Be a person of prayer even when you do not know what to pray. God will help you in your weakness. May you pray today. Three key questions to ask as we prayerfully read the scriptures:
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Romans 8:19-25 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Our passage before us describes what life is like in a world infected by sin, the pain of childbirth. When sin entered the world, literal pain in childbirth for the woman and literal pain for the man in providing materially for the family became the norm (Genesis 3:16-19). The life lived in our world infected by sin is compared to the labor of a woman giving birth. The hope of the woman in labor pains is to give birth to her child and have the labor pains cease. Classes are given to help couples through the labor. Position and breathing patterns are taught to help the woman handle the labor and delivery process. When delivery happens and the mother is given the baby, a great peace and joy come upon the mother. The bride of Christ, the Church, lives life in this sinful world experiencing “labor” pains with the hope of delivery into a new heavens and earth free from the pains caused by sin. This hope is guaranteed by the gift of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14). By giving us the Holy Spirit God has provided for us the resources to live with peace and joy through the “labor” of life and has given us a sure hope of being birthed into a brand new, sin free life. Just as the birthing classes prepared the mother to deal with the pain of labor and stay under control, so the Lord has given us the Holy Spirit to instruct us (John 14:26) how to live through the “labor” of this present sinful environment with peace and joy and in control of our lives. While we wait for our hope to be realized, we can live an abundant life now by obeying the instruction given by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. We know our position in Christ; we rule with Him and are made righteous in Him (Ephesians 2:6; Romans 5:1). We know “breathing techniques” that help us get through the “labor pains” under control. The “breathing techniques” are the teachings of the Bible. We live in a world groaning under the cruel bondage of sin. We have hope that it will give way to the freedom of the new heavens and earth where there is no sorrow, pain, mourning or death (Revelation 21:4). Keep remembering our exalted position in Christ and keep practicing the word of God by faith in Jesus. Our “labor” pains will one day give way to our glorious life in the new heavens and earth. May you breathe as you wait for Jesus to return with patience. Three key questions to ask as we prayerfully read the scriptures:
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Romans 8:16-18 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs- heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. The Holy Spirit communicates with us as a parent communicates with his children, “You belong to me and I love you.” God wants us to know we are His children and He tells us we belong to Him. Since we are God’s children we are His heirs. All He possesses has been given to us, even though we haven’t yet received the entire inheritance. The material part of our inheritance will be given to us when Jesus returns for us. On His return we will be given the entire material part of our inheritance – a new heavens and earth. We have now received every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies to provide us with an abundant life in a sinful world. We access our inheritance by faith in the Son of God (Galatians 2:20). One of the ways we know we are legitimate children is our willingness to suffer with Christ. Those who are not willing to suffer with Christ are not following Christ (Matthew 16:24-25) and need to check if they have really repented of their sin and believed the gospel. Our present sufferings as Christians are not worth comparing to the glory that is to be revealed to us. Paul’s instruction to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 4:17) expands our understanding of present sufferings, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." Our present suffering for Christ is a small price to pay for the glory or splendor of our eternal inheritance of living in the new heavens and earth with the Lord Jesus Christ.
If your answer is “no” to both these questions, then you may need to repent of your sin and believe the gospel. If you have repented of your sin and believed the gospel and still answer “no” to the two questions, you need to ask the Lord to help you “hear” His voice and to give you boldness to be willing to suffer for Him. These requests are according to His will and if we ask according to His will we know He hears us. If we know He hears us we know we have what we asked (1 John 5:14-15). Today, more than ever, we need to know we are His children and heirs. We need to be willing to suffer for His name to get the message of Christ out to the many who are bound for eternal torment. What you believe shapes how you live. What do you believe? May you know you are a child of God. Three key questions to ask as we prayerfully read the scriptures:
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Romans 8:12-17 So then, brothers, we are obligated, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs- heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. This passage is loaded with seven truths to move you forward by faith. You will be encouraged and motivated to win the race. Get these seven truth statements in your heart. Meditate on them today.
Jesus is saying to us who believe, “Beloved, remember you are Mine. Don’t let sin bully or manipulate you anymore. Live in My freedom by obeying all I have commanded you by the power I have given you. You do this by living in this body by faith in Me. I will provide all you need to live an abundant life now, in this sinful world, and forevermore in the new heavens and earth I will create when I come.” May you receive this truth today and be set free. Three key questions to ask as we prayerfully read the scriptures:
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Romans 8:9-11 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. Christians who have truly repented of their sins and believed the gospel have the choice to live according to the flesh (sin nature) or according to God’s will. In our text today, Romans 8:9-11, Paul reminds the Christians that they are not controlled by sin (“in the flesh”) but have the power of God (“in the Spirit”) to live God’s way if the Spirit of God dwells in them. If we do not have the Holy Spirit, then we do not belong to God and cannot live according to God's will. How do we know that we have the Holy Spirit and belong to God? Ephesians 1:13-14 instructs us that if we have believed the gospel, then the promised Holy Spirit has been given to us. Have you repented of your sins and believed Jesus died on the cross for your sins, rose from the dead on the third day and is your Lord? If you have, then you have the Holy Spirit. If you have the Holy Spirit, your body is dead because of sin, but your spirit is alive because of righteousness. If you have the Holy Spirit you can live according to God’s will. The Holy Spirit communicates with our spirit to teach us truth and moves us to live the truth, obeying the Lord Jesus (1 Corinthians 2:12; Ezekiel 36:27; Ephesians 1:13-14, 19-20; 3:20). We can do God’s will when we let the Holy Spirit empower us. We let the Holy Spirit empower us when we attempt to do God’s will expecting God to fulfill our attempt with His power, that is, “live by faith in the Son of God” (Galatians 2:20). Romans 8:9-11 reminds us that we can live according to God’s good, pleasing and perfect will. We will mess up and not live according to the truth, but we need to remember we can, by the power of the Holy Spirit, get back to living the truth. We simply confess our sin to God, receive His forgiveness and begin once again to live by faith in the Son of God, being and doing His will (1 John 1:9; Galatians 2:20). Be encouraged, the triune God lives in you: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:9-11 shows us this fact along with Matthew 28:19. If God is living in us then we can be and do all He commands (Philippians 4:13). Do not live a life of defeat as a Christian. Do live a life of victory by attempting to be and do God’s will expecting God to fulfill your attempt with His power. Nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37). We 'can' live according to God’s good, pleasing and perfect will. May you live a victorious life today. Three key questions to ask as we prayerfully read the scriptures:
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Romans 8:5-8 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Our 'flesh' refers to our sinful nature. Our physical body is contaminated with sin and causes each of us to think and act contrary to our Creator God, Jesus. Proverbs 14:12 sums this up, “There is a way that seems right to man, but its end is the way to death.” Thinking apart from the Word of God is thinking according to the things of the flesh. This thinking leads to death, even though it seems right at the time. Many of us need help with parenting so I will use it to illustrate thinking in the flesh as compared to thinking according to the Word of God. Proverbs 23:10-14 instructs us not to withhold discipline from a child even if it painful to the child at the time. Hebrews 12:5-11 instructs us that the Lord disciplines us in a painful manner out of love for us and so we will experience the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Sinful (fleshly) thinking would tell us we are being loving to a child to withhold discipline, but withholding discipline from a child who needs it does the child and everyone around him long-term harm. Thinking according to the flesh also yields the fruit of the flesh (see Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 4:31; Colossians 3:7-9 for a few listings of the fruit of the flesh). Do not give into fleshly thinking in parenting. We are, as believers, to set our mind on the things of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit reveals truth to us (1 Corinthians 2:12), teaches us the truth and reminds us later what He taught us (John 14:6), and guides us into all truth (John 16:13). Knowing the truth leads to life and freedom (John 8:32; John 17:3; Romans 8:6). The mind that is set on the things of the Spirit is life and peace. Knowing this, we should desire to learn the things of the Spirit and practice, by the power of the Holy Spirit, what we learn. One indicator in our life that reveals where our mind is set is 'life and peace'. The mind set on the Spirit is life and peace. Another indicator in our life that shows where our mind is set is our attitude toward God. If our mind is set on the things of the flesh we are hostile to God. Hostile is not merely shaking our fist at God and shouting hateful things to Him. Hostility is ignoring Him, making fun of Him, avoiding Him, not wanting to read what He has to say, doing what He says not to do and not doing what He says to do. Is your mind set on the flesh or the Spirit? Determine the answer by the applying the indicators to your life. Is your life characterized by life and peace? Is your attitude hostile toward God? If your mind is set on the Spirit, don’t change the setting. If your mind is set on the flesh then you need to change the setting. You change the setting by repenting of your sin and believing the gospel if you are currently an unbeliever (Mark 1:15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 10:9) and then start doing what a believer is to do. If you are a believer, you repent of your sin and begin to learn and practice the truth by faith in the Son of God. You need to take time to systematically read the Word of God asking the Spirit to teach you and move you to practice what you learn. Begin by reading Genesis, chapters one through eleven, and then begin reading Matthew and continue through the New Testament until you finish the book of Revelation. May you live by the Spirit and experience life and peace. Three key questions to ask as we prayerfully read the scriptures:
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